scholarly journals Resaca supports range expansion of invasive apple snails (Pomacea maculata Perry, 1810; Caenogastropoda: Ampullariidae) to the Rio Grande Valley, Texas

Check List ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 2134 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kathryn E. Perez ◽  
Victoria Garcia Gamboa ◽  
Caitlin M. Schneider ◽  
Romi L. Burks

Resacas, or oxbow lakes, form from old river channels. In the Rio Grande, resacas provide habitat for diverse wildlife, including native and non-native species. Biologists unexpectedly found pink egg masses on emergent vegetation (November 2015) and later adult apple snails (May 2016) within a resaca at a former fish hatchery in Brownsville, Texas. This report extends the non-native range of Pomacea maculata Perry, 1810 by 429 km southeast in Texas. Our findings imply that abandoned waterbodies, such as fish hatcheries, can act as unrecognized conduits for non-native invasive species.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Inês Cerveira ◽  
Vânia Baptista ◽  
Maria Alexandra Teodósio ◽  
Pedro Morais

Abstract Promoting the consumption of edible aquatic invasive species has gained popularity to minimize its impacts while easing pressure on native resources. Weakfish Cynoscion regalis (Bloch & Schneider, 1801) is one of the most recent invasive fish species in the Iberian Peninsula (Europe) which once sustained an important fishery in the native range (Northwest Atlantic Ocean). Portugal ranks third in the list of the world’s top fish consumers, so promoting a weakfish fishery could at least help minimize the impacts upon native species, since weakfish have innate traits that are likely appreciated by Portuguese fish consumers. However, introducing a new species to consumers is challenging owing to consumers’ habits and unfamiliarity with the species. So, we aimed to (i) evaluate the acceptance of weakfish by a panel of Portuguese fish consumers and (ii) create outreach actions – partnerships with local Chefs and press releases – to explain to a broader public what invasive species are and promote the consumption of edible aquatic invasive species. The survey that we conducted to Portuguese fish consumers showed that weakfish has great chances of being well accepted by the public – 90% of consumers would buy weakfish because they appreciated its appearance, flavour, and texture, besides being a wild fish. The outreach actions reached a few million people because 46 online articles were published, and three news pieces broadcasted on national television. Overall, our strategy greatly increased the public’s awareness about invasive species, which can be replicated elsewhere in the world.


Author(s):  
Lauren M. Smith-Ramesh

Abstract Allelopathy, or the process by which plants influence the growth and performance of their neighbours through the release of chemicals, may play a key role in mediating the impacts of non-native invasive species on their neighbours. The Novel Weapons Hypothesis purports that non-native invasive species are in part successful because they produce harmful allelochemicals to which resident species are particularly susceptible because residents lack a shared evolutionary history with the invader. While allelopathic non-native invaders may reduce the growth and performance of neighbours through direct phytotoxicity, they may more often exert negative impacts through disruption of biotic interactions among resident species. Allelopathy by non-native plants may disrupt mutualisms between resident plants and microbes, plant-herbivore interactions or existing competitive and facilitative interactions among resident plants. For example, several non-native plants are known to disrupt the mutualism between resident plants and mycorrhizal fungi, reducing resident plant fitness to the benefit of the invader. Allelopathic non-natives may also disrupt interactions among resident plants and their herbivores when allelochemicals also influence herbivore behaviour or fitness. Alternatively, biotic interactions can also be protective for resident species, which may be less susceptible to the impacts of non-native species when their mutualisms are intact. As we advance our understanding of allelopathy and its role in mediating the impacts of invasive plant species, we may gain new insights by viewing invasions within a network context rather than focusing on pairwise interactions.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tara Hopley ◽  
Bruce L. Webber ◽  
S. Raghu ◽  
Louise Morin ◽  
Margaret Byrne

Genomic analysis can be a valuable tool to assistmanagement of non-native invasive species, through determining source and number of introductions as well as clarifying phylogenetic relationships. Here, we used whole chloroplast sequencing to investigate the introduction history of Passiflora foetida sensu lato in Australia and clarify its relationship with other Passiflora species present. Phylogenetic analysis of chloroplast genome data identified three separate genetic lineages of P. foetida s. l. present in Australia, indicating multiple introductions. These lineages had affinities to samples from three separate areas within the native range in Central and South America that represented phylogenetically distinct lineages. These results provide a basis for a targeted search of the native range of P. foetida s. l. for candidate biological control agents that have co-evolved with this species and are thus better adapted to the lineages that are present in Australia. Results also indicated that the Passiflora species native to Australia are in a separate clade to that of P. foetida s. l. and other introduced Passiflora species cultivated in Australia. This knowledge is important to assess the likelihood of finding biological control agents for P. foetida s. l. that will be sufficiently host-specific for introduction in Australia. As P. foetida s. l. is a widespread non-native invasive species across many regions of the world, outcomes from this work highlight the importance of first evaluating the specific entities present in a country before the initiation of a biological control program.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sayra Espindola ◽  
Ella Vázquez-Domínguez ◽  
Miguel Nakamura ◽  
Luis Osorio-Olvera ◽  
Enrique Martínez-Meyer ◽  
...  

Non-native (invasive) species offer a unique opportunity to study the geographic distribution and range limits of species, wherein the evolutionary change driven by interspecific interactions between native and non-native closely related species is a key component. The red-eared slider turtle, Trachemys scripta elegans (TSE), has been introduced and successfully established worldwide. It can coexist with its native congeners T. cataspila, T. venusta and T. taylori in Mexico. We performed comprehensive fieldwork, executed a battery of genetic analyses and applied a novel species distribution modeling approach to evaluate their historical lineage relationships and contemporary population genetic patterns. Our findings support the historical common ancestry between native TSE and non-native (TSEalien), while also highlighting the genetic differentiation of the exotic lineage. Genetic patterns are associated with their range size/endemism gradient, the microendemic T. taylori showed significant reduced genetic diversity and high differentiation, whereas TSEalien showed the highest diversity and signals of population size expansion. Counter to our expectations, lower naturally occurring distribution overlap and little admixture patterns were found between and its congeners, exhibiting reduced gene flow and clear genetic separation across neighboring species despite having zones of contact. We demonstrate that these native Trachemys species have distinct climatic niche suitability, likely preventing establishment of and displacement by the non-native TSE. Additionally, we found major niche overlap between TSEalien and native species worldwide, supporting our prediction that sites with closer ecological optima to the invasive species have higher establishment risk than those that are closer to the niche-center of the native species.


Author(s):  
Lauren M. Smith-Ramesh ◽  

Allelopathy, or the process by which plants influence the growth and performance of their neighbours through the release of chemicals, may play a key role in mediating the impacts of non-native invasive species on their neighbours. The Novel Weapons Hypothesis purports that non-native invasive species are in part successful because they produce harmful allelochemicals to which resident species are particularly susceptible because residents lack a shared evolutionary history with the invader. While allelopathic non-native invaders may reduce the growth and performance of neighbours through direct phytotoxicity, they may more often exert negative impacts through disruption of biotic interactions among resident species. Allelopathy by non-native plants may disrupt mutualisms between resident plants and microbes, plant-herbivore interactions or existing competitive and facilitative interactions among resident plants. For example, several non-native plants are known to disrupt the mutualism between resident plants and mycorrhizal fungi, reducing resident plant fitness to the benefit of the invader. Allelopathic non-natives may also disrupt interactions among resident plants and their herbivores when allelochemicals also influence herbivore behaviour or fitness. Alternatively, biotic interactions can also be protective for resident species, which may be less susceptible to the impacts of non-native species when their mutualisms are intact. As we advance our understanding of allelopathy and its role in mediating the impacts of invasive plant species, we may gain new insights by viewing invasions within a network context rather than focusing on pairwise interactions.


Author(s):  
Jana Marková ◽  
Rikho Jerikho ◽  
Yusli Wardiatno ◽  
Mohammad Mukhlis Kamal ◽  
André Lincoln Barosso Magalhães ◽  
...  

Ornamental aquaculture is known to be one of the main sources of non-native species and Indonesia has been identified as one of the leading suppliers of these organisms worldwide. Released or escaped ornamental aquatic animals can establish new populations and become invasive. On the other hand, some invasive species can be also endangered in their native range, which is called the “Biodiversity Conservation Paradox”. This is true for Arapaima gigas, one of the popular ornamental creatures and the largest bony fish of all, which is threatened in its native range in parts of Amazonia and which has been found to occur in various localities in Java and Sumatra in Indonesia. Based on climate matching we found the vast majority of Indonesian territory to be suitable for this species establishment. Keeping in mind the size and predatory behaviour of A. gigas, we discussed possible consequences of its spread and impacts on native biota in Indonesia.


2020 ◽  
Vol 45 (1) ◽  
pp. 212-218
Author(s):  
Bruno Dematteis ◽  
María S. Ferrucci ◽  
Pablo Ortega-Baes ◽  
Juan P. Coulleri

Abstract—Invasive species must colonize new habitats away from their native range; therefore, factors affecting plant dispersal play a key role in invasion. The ploidy level and genome size (or Cx value) can affect the dispersal traits, physiology, and ecology of invasive species over a few generations, generating individuals that can face fluctuating environments, exploit new ones, and compete with native species. Several studies have demonstrated that invasive species tend to have smaller genomes than their noninvasive congeners, which is explained by the role that the Cx value plays in phenotypic evolution and ecological tolerance. In order to test this hypothesis, we compare the genome size variation in Argentine populations (invasive range) vs. South African populations (native range) of S. madagascariensis. To meet our goals, we estimated the Cx value of invasive populations collected on field trips, while for native populations we considered available published data. We extracted the bioclimatic variables in order to establish the ecological amplitude in which the genome sizes may be distributed. Our results evidenced larger genomes in the invasive range than in the native one. Furthermore, we propose that large genomes of the invasive populations could be mainly explained by the founder genotypes effect and the anthropogenic introduction of this species to Argentina. In addition, we demonstrated that genotypes with big genomes can tolerate different environmental conditions from those of their native range. Therefore, they could present a greater ability for colonizing new environments. The implications and importance of ploidy level in the invasion of S. madagascariensis are discussed.


2021 ◽  
pp. 1-13
Author(s):  
Neil O. Anderson ◽  
Alan G. Smith ◽  
Andrzej K. Noyszewski ◽  
Emi Ito ◽  
Diana Dalbotten ◽  
...  

The issue of native invasive species management rarely occurs and is fraught with biological, social, and economic challenges as well as posing difficulties in decision-making for land managers. The terminology for categorization of invasive species is examined in the context of their bias(es), which complicates control. An example of a newly determined native species, which is also invasive, is used as an example to navigate control and regulatory issues. Native, invasive reed canarygrass (Phalaris arundinacea L.) occurs throughout Minnesota and most likely the entire midwest region of central United States and Canadian provinces. The species was previously assumed to be an exotic, nonnative Eurasian import but recent molecular evidence supports its status as a native but invasive species. We address how this change to being a native but highly invasive species modifies approaches to mitigate its potential control for state, Tribal, and local authorities. The implications of these new findings will require differential shifts in land managers’ perspectives and approaches for control. Particular differences may exist for Tribal Land Managers vs. departments of natural resources and private agencies. Additionally, regulatory challenges have yet to be decided on how to legislate control for a native invasive species that had been previously assumed as exotic or foreign in origin. These opportunities to change attitudes and implement judicial control measures will serve as a template for other invasive species that are native in origin.


2020 ◽  
Vol 637 ◽  
pp. 195-208 ◽  
Author(s):  
EM DeRoy ◽  
R Scott ◽  
NE Hussey ◽  
HJ MacIsaac

The ecological impacts of invasive species are highly variable and mediated by many factors, including both habitat and population abundance. Lionfish Pterois volitans are an invasive marine species which have high reported detrimental effects on prey populations, but whose effects relative to native predators are currently unknown for the recently colonized eastern Gulf of Mexico. We used functional response (FR) methodology to assess the ecological impact of lionfish relative to 2 functionally similar native species (red grouper Epinephelus morio and graysby grouper Cephalopholis cruentata) foraging in a heterogeneous environment. We then combined the per capita impact of each species with their field abundance to obtain a Relative Impact Potential (RIP). RIP assesses the broader ecological impact of invasive relative to native predators, the magnitude of which predicts community-level negative effects of invasive species. Lionfish FR and overall consumption rate was intermediate to that of red grouper (higher) and graysby grouper (lower). However, lionfish had the highest capture efficiency of all species, which was invariant of habitat. Much higher field abundance of lionfish resulted in high RIPs relative to both grouper species, demonstrating that the ecological impact of lionfish in this region will be driven mainly by high abundance and high predator efficiency rather than per capita effect. Our comparative study is the first empirical assessment of lionfish per capita impact and RIP in this region and is one of few such studies to quantify the FR of a marine predator.


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